Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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805. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to introduce a weekly allowance for children living in direct provision in line with the rate for a qualified child including the higher rate for children over 12 years of age. [29758/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2019, I was pleased to increase the rate of Daily Expenses Allowance to the rates recommended in the McMahon Report on Improvements to the Protection Process.  This included a €8.20 per week increase (to €29.80) in the payment for children. 

The estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly payment for children living in direct provision in line with the rate for a qualified child payment, €34 for children under 12 and €37 for children aged 12 and over, would be €0.4 million.

Any such increase would need to considered in a budgetary context.  

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.